GALLERY: Rapids rally to upend Rock

Game Photos: Dal Photography

FRENCH RIVER – Josh Russell tallied twice and the French River Rapids rallied from an early two-goal deficit to pull out a 4-2 come from behind victory over the Timmins Rock Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Noelville Arena.

The Rock, who were 9-1 in their previous 10 outings, looked to continue their torrid pace in the opening 20 minutes by notching a pair of markers.

Justin Charette got Timmins going seven and a half minutes in as he stuffed in a rebound off a couple of quality chances from in close.

They then added another off a rush into the French River zone that saw Nicholas Frederick bank an attempt off a defender’s skate and past Rapids’ goalkeeper Cole Sheffield.

Getting one back three and half minutes into the second period, Adam Boucher notched his initial league marker as the defenceman took a back pass in the corner from Spencer Borg and blasted a one-timer from the slot that beat Rock netminder Gavin McCarthy.

Forcing a turnover just inside the blueline helped French River get the equalizer with three minutes left in the second, as Russell finished the play off after a Cooper Bowman attempt with a back hand tap in while arriving in the blue paint.

Building on their momentum, the Rapids took the lead 24 seconds into the third as Levi Siau took a back pass from Chase Lefebvre and buried one into the top corner from the left circle.

French River kept coming and got a fourth on the night off a strong forecheck that resulted in Bowman made a feed back to Russell right on top of McCarthy where he snapped one upstairs at 4:36.

The Rapids then held firm the rest of the way to collect the home ice decision.

Sheffield finished with 43 saves to pick up the win while McCarthy stopped 40 of 44 in defeat.